Court

Justice Adeniyi Ademola pulled a fast one on the National Judicial Council, by hurriedly announcing his resignation, a spokesman for the council revealed today.

According to Soji Oye, NJC’s Director of Information, the council recommended on Wednesday the compulsory retirement of Ademola, along with Justice O. O. Tokode, both of the Federal High Court, for misconduct.

The decision was taken at the Council’s 84th meeting on Dec. 6., chaired by the Chief Justice Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghe.

Ademola apparently getting wind of NJC’s decision, hurriedly notified the council of his decision to voluntarily retire from the bench.

Ademola was due for retirement on April 9, 2018, when he would attain the mandatory retirement age of 65 years.

The council said its decision was pursuant to its findings on the allegation in the petition written against Ademola by Committee of Anambra State PDP House of Representatives Members-Elect.

The council said the petitioners alleged gross misconduct in the handling of a matter they filed before Ademola.

The council urged the public to disregard news circulating that Ademola had voluntarily retired.

“The purported voluntary retirement is clearly an afterthought as council had taken action before his decision to forward any voluntary retirement letter.”

The council further said that Justice Tokode was also recommended to the President for compulsory retirement with immediate effect.

It said this followed its findings on the allegation contained in petitions forwarded by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Miss Abimbola Awogboro.

“The petitioners accused the judge of misleading the Federal Judicial Service Commission and the National Judicial Council.

” This was by submitting six judgements he claimed to have personally conducted while practising as a lawyer; a pre-requisite for his application for appointment as a judicial officer, and was so appointed.

“The investigation committee of council, however, found that the judge personally conducted only one of the six cases submitted.

” Therefore, Council decided to recommend his compulsory retirement and the refund of all salaries and allowances he earned since his purported appointment to the position of a Judge to the coffers of the Judiciary.”

The council said in the interim, both judges were suspended from office with immediate effect.

The council similarly issued warning letters to Justices A. N. Ubaka of the National Industrial Court, Justice A. M. Lawal of Lagos High Court and Zainab Sadat of the High Court of Niger and placed them both on a watch list.

However, the council dismissed the petition written by Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, former interim chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, accusing Justice A. Liman of the Federal High Court of corruption.

The Global Amnesty Watch, an international humanitarian organization has endorsed the report of the Special Board of Inquiry (SBOI), which investigated the alleged war crimes man by the Nigerian Army personnel in the fight against insurgency in the North East and Internal Security Operations in the South Eastern part of the country.

Recall that the Nigerian Army had said on Thursday that it was studying the report of a special panel that investigated allegations of human rights abuses against the army.

The panel headed by a retired major general, A.T. Jibrin, submitted its report to the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai last week at the army headquarters in Abuja.

Mrs Helen Adesola, Nigerian Representative of GAW, said it was clearly established that all the allegations of rights abuses, extra-judicial killings, forced disappearances were mere concoctions from the imaginations of those of those that have been issuing inaccurate reports.

According to her, “Other instances of documented abuses were transposed from a previous era to give the impression that the cases in question were recently committed.

She added, “The report, which should be given the widest publicity possible, should now put to rest the controversies that had raged around the efforts by Nigerian military authorities to secure the country and keep citizens safe from terrorists and other life threatening criminals.

“The revelations that certain unauthorized organizations were able to obtain classified military documents and signals through leaks is one that should keep the world worried as it implies staffers of such organizations could have been engaged in passing vital Army strategies and troop movement to terrorists, making it difficult to protect civilians.

“We have noted calls for independent investigation and further probes suggested by certain organizations.

“The Global Amnesty Watch however wishes to caution the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government of Nigeria to resist the temptation of being drawn into a popularity contest of pleasing smaller groups to the detriment of the larger population,” her statement added.

The GAW urged the military authority not compromise the interest of the people in the areas affected by terrorism, insurgency and other crimes because they want to be compliant with the request of a narrow spectrum of activists.

She added, “The response for an independent investigation or commission of inquiry must be realistically balanced with the safety and security of citizens since such exercise can compromise national security.

“Nigeria must never lose sight of the fact that the Army is its institution as a sovereign nation and no amount of blackmail should force it to surrender state institutions to fifth columnists especially in this era that terrorists have infiltrated the ranks and file of various military which the Nigerian Army has successfully insulated itself against.”

The Conference of Nigeria Political parties (CNPP) has thrown its weight behind the call by the United Labour Congress (ULC) for the release the Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, in order to pave the way for negotiation with company’s management.

The umbrella body of all registered political parties and associations in the country in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu appealed to the federal government to consider the fate of the numerous workers employed by the privately owned company and release the detained oil magnet or charge him to court for prosecution.

“Like the ULC observed, federal government’s promise to provide jobs and its desire to tackle unemployment in Nigeria will be a mirage if actions or inactions of government lead to job loses or contribute to the widening of the unemployment gap.

“As at today, more jobs have been lost in the private sector than the federal government has created due to harsh economic environment in the country as a result of the current recession.

“Our fears is that the continued detention of the Capital oil and Gas chairman without trial will not only lead to the sack of over 5,000 workers directly and indirectly engaged by the company but will also send frightening signals to foreign direct investors that Nigeria is a country where the rule of law is scarce.

“No serious foreign investor would invest in a country with history of detention without trial”, the CNPP observed.

While calling on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to intervene in the matter to halt impending massive job loss in the company and other sister companies owned by Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, the political parties and associations said that the federal government must ensure that justice is seen to have been done in all cases involving its citizens at home and abroad.

“We are aware that the federal government is exploring diplomatic channels to intervene in cases involving Nigerians in some foreign lands. But it would amount to a joke taken too far if the same government detains its citizens involved in a mere commercial transaction dispute indefinitely without opportunity to defend themselves in a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Acting President Yemi Osinbajo must save the President Muhammadu Buhari administration from further damage to its reputation in the international community by releasing or charging Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah to Court.

“It will be very shameful for the federal government to be seen as directly or indirectly contributing to further job losses in the country”, the CNPP noted.

The Presidential Campaign Organisation of President Goodluck Jonathan has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of stopping its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari from participating in a presidential debate being organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) as a means of shielding the intellectual laziness and inability of the former military dictator to constructively engage contemporary national issues in a live television and radio debate from Nigerians and the international audience.

Jonathan who spoke through the Director of Media and Publicity of his Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, stated that the APC knows that General Buhari will flunk it if he is subjected to the rigours of debate on national issues relating to governance and development.

Jonathan’s Campaign body said it was aware that the APC had already expressed its concerns, when approached by an international news channel for a debate, about the intellectual acumen of General Buhari, and had assured the news channel that it was only comfortable with its vice presidential candidate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who has capacity to feature brilliantly on the programme.

“We have just read a report in the media credited to the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation that the party would not allow its candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, to participate in the radio and television presidential debate organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

“The APC accused the organisers of the debate of unhidden bias and campaign of calumny by some key organisers of the programme against the corporate political interest of the party and its candidates.

“Whilst we will not bother ourselves with the many reasons adduced by the APC, we wish to state that we see the APC decision as an attempt to shield its presidential candidate from displaying his intellectual laziness and inability to constructively engage contemporary national issues in a live television and radio debate.

“We had envisaged that the APC would be reluctant to expose General Buhari to the rigours of a live television debate because the opposition party knows that its candidate will flunk it.

“If the APC truly believes that it is ‘a party of progressive intellectuals’, as it claims it should allow General Buhari to prove that at the debate.

“Should the APC fail to participate in the debate, it would also show the disdain both the party and its candidate have for the Nigerian people, denying them the opportunity to make informed choices on the basis of what each candidate will articulate as propositions on issues that will be raised.

“We are convinced that General Buhari does not have what it takes to sustain a coherent argument on germane issues of governance and development.

“We challenge General Buhari to a debate on any national and international medium of mass communication and our candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan will be ready to participate.

“On the other hand, President Jonathan’s running mate, Vice President Namadi Sambo, is also ready to participate in the debate and any other debate.

“Our presidential candidate and his running mate will not raise flimsy and escapist excuses such as “unhidden bias” and the like, since we believe that they are well-rounded intellectuals who have been prepared by their experience in office to answer any question under the sun on the governance of our nation.”, Jonathan Campaign group noted.

Nigerian military authorities have come down heavily on suspected senior military officers sabotaging counter-terrorism operations in the country as over 10 senior officers, including a Brigadier-General, have been arrested and are currently telling the military hierarchy what they know about a recent attack carried out by the Islamic insurgent group, Boko Haram.

The officers may be charged before a military tribunal as soon as investigation into their complicity or otherwise is completed.

According to the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, the investigation of senior army officers follows alleged shirking their responsibilities during the attack by the militants on Baga.

Those arrested so far include Brigadier-General Enitan Ransome-Kuti, his Chief of Staff Lt. Colonel G.A Suru, the Commanding Officer of 134 and 174 battalions, Lt. Colonel Haruna and one Major aliyu.

The two Nigerian Army battalions are under the Multi-National Task Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Baga, attacked by the insurgents.

Speaking on the arrest, General Olukolade said that the arrested officers were being investigated because at the time of the attack on the multinational headquarters in Baga, Brigadier-General Ransome-Kuti and his men were fully in charge of the military formation.

He said it was disappointing that the attack on Baga was not repelled by both battalions, despite having the necessary weapons to carry out the necessary operations.

On January 3, 2015, suspected members of Boko Haram attacked the base of the Multinational Task Force in Baga, Borno State, dislodging the soldiers there.

Reports say the troops were warned to be on alert following intelligence reports that terrorists would strike between January 22 and January 25.

Eyewitnesses, Channels Tv reports, said that the attack started around 5am when residents started hearing gunshots as the insurgents tried to gain entrance into the MNJTF premises.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday during a rally in Enugu said that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), cannot remember his own mobile phone number.

Jonathan, whose unscripted address was mostly a response to previous statements made by Buhari, accused the APC presidential candidate of deceiving Nigerians by promising to revive the economy without explaining how he would achieve the feat.

The President wondered how Buhari would develop the country’s economy, a feat he could not achieve while he was in office as head of state between 1983 and 1985.

“Is it now that Buhari cannot even remember his own phone number that he can change the economy of the country.” Jonathan asked.

The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate said that although he did not like to “go personal during campaigns,” “sometimes circumstances demand that certain things must be said.”

Jonathan said that Buhari belonged to the medieval age, adding that he (the APC candidate) intended to run the Federal Government as a medieval king.

He said, “We cannot run the government as if we are in the medieval age; we cannot run a government where somebody said he would throw people into jail.

“You are not a medieval king – a medieval king can throw you into jail but we have to follow the rule of law because we cannot go back to the old days.”

Jonathan, however, read the speech made by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.) after overthrowing Buhari’s regime through a military coup on August 27, 1985 to justify his claim that the APC candidate does not keep his promises.

Babangida, in the portions of the address read by Jonathan, justified Buhari’s overthrow by pointing out that the latter did not live up to the promises he made to Nigerians when he ousted a democratically elected civilian government headed by Alhaji Shehu Shagari in a military coup.

Noting that Buhari “deceived Nigerians” from 1983 to 1985, Jonathan quoted Babangida as saying, “The initial objectives of Buhari’s intervention were betrayed as there was a general deterioration of standard of living in the country.”

The PDP candidate also pointed out that Babangida accused Buhari of being “too rigid in his attitude to national issues” and “became alienated from the people” in the course of his stay in power.

He, therefore, challenged Buhari to tell Nigerians how he intends to revive the economy.

Jonathan said, “They are telling young Nigerians that they are going to change the economy but they have not told us how they want to manage the economy more than us.

“If they say they want to change agriculture, they should tell us the weak links in the agriculture value chain and what they want to do about it.

“I said in Lagos that I want to work with young people, not to deceive people.

“I am not going to run the government based on my habits, I am going to run the government according to global best practices.”

Jonathan also insisted that he was committed to the campaign against corruption.

“There is no government that has fought corruption more than we do,” he said, noting that some previous administrations pretended to be fighting corruption while oppressing their enemies.

He recalled that Buhari jailed some prominent Igbo politicians while in office as head of state, including former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme and former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo.

Stressing that Buhari jailed politicians on trumped up charges, Jonathan said, “You can no longer carry people and put them in prison for 301 years.”

The President equally accused Buhari of having a wrong idea of corruption.

According to him, Buhari believes that every wealthy Nigerian is corrupt.

He said, “If a Nigerian businessman has a private jet, then you are corrupt but if a South African has a private jet then you commend him.

“If you have a good house, then you are corrupt, if you have a good car then you are corrupt – that is his definition of corruption.”

Jonathan accused his opponent of making spurious claims against him.

The President said, “They are saying that government is corrupt but they are not telling us what they are going to do to stop corruption. Let them go back to their consultants to coach them, then I will listen to them.

“They should tell us how they are going to manage the economy better than we do.

A former Chief of Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika, has instituted a suit at the Abuja High Court against the Australian hostage negotiator, Stephen Davies, who accused him of sponsoring Boko Haram insurgency in the North East Nigeria.
In the suit filed by his team of lawyers, Nnoruka Udechukwu, C.U. Ilegbune, and Ben Anechebe, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, Ihejirika is demanding N100 billion as aggravated damages for defamation.

Davies had in August accused the retired general, a former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, an unnamed senior official of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as well as a man based in Cairo, Egypt, of being among the top sponsors of the Islamic insurgents.

The former army chief has denied the allegation.

Ihejirika, who retired military service in January, said that as a result of the allegation, “he has suffered ‎grievous wrong and he has been exposed to scandal, odium, ridicule, humiliation and his character, credit and reputation brought into disrepute, both in Nigeria and abroad”.

His lawyers have applied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enable them serve Mr. Davis, who lives in Perth, Australia, with the court’s processes after securing an order of court to serve the process abroad.

Nigeria and Australia are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and a special procedure has to be followed when serving court processes on defendant residing in a country that is a member of the group other than the country where the writ is issued.

Ihejirika, apart from the N100 billion damages, is also asking for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Mr. Davis or his agents from further making comments that are defamatory about him.

He is also seeking an order for the Australian to immediately publish a full and unreserved retraction and apology in the front page of THISDAY Newspaper for making a false malicious and libelous publication.

Ihejirika said that he served the military meritoriously before retiring and that he had a successful and ‎unblemished career in the army.

Ihejirika said, “On or about the 28th day of August 2014, the Defendant granted a Multimedia and Television interview broadcast to AriseTv‎, which aired in Nigeria, particularly in Abuja, and subsequently published by numerous newspapers and media houses; wherein the defendant when asked during the AriseNews segment of the interview to name the sponsors of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, falsely and maliciously spoke of the plaintiff in the following words, to wit:

“’There is the former Chief of Army Staff, retired January, or actually sacked by the President he is another sponsor. I could give you the names if you like but I have no fear that these were very confident and it is in fact Boko Haram senior commanders who have been naming them.’”

The retired general stated that the spoken words and publication in their ordinary meaning were ‎understood by reasonable members of the society who listened/watched ‎ the said AriseNews broadcast in Abuja to mean that he sponsored Boko Haram, a terrorist sect to wage war, insurrection or insurgency against Nigeria.

Ihejirika said the publication suggested that he was sacked by President Goodluck Jonathan even though he retired and had not committed any offence.

He also said those who listened to the broadcast had the belief that he did not conduct himself in accordance with the oath of allegiance and service as a soldier and senior office in the army.

The former army chief, in the affidavit he deposed to, said he had been exposed to scandal, odium, ridicule, humiliation while his character, credit and reputation had been brought into disrepute, both in Nigeria and abroad

Former associate and aide to late Afro beat musician, Fela Kuti, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of genocide, calling for his trial.
Uwa Erhabor, who worked with the late musician in the 1980s, made the demand Thursday while launching of his new book, “Kalakuta Diaries”.

He accused Obasanjo of ordering the killings in Zaki Biam, Benue State, and in Odi, Bayelsa State.

Erhabor branded the former president a “hypocrite” and also accused him of ordering troops to kill Fela, when Mr. Obasanjo held power as a military ruler.

He said the former leader made attempts at settling Fela with money before ordering that he be attacked.

Erhabor said the directive was issued when the late singer conveyed the body of his mother to Dodan Barracks, the seat of the then military government, in protest of her death.

He said it was the intervention of Mamman Vatsa, who was later killed for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Babangida military government, that saved Fela.

He insisted that former President Obasanjo has been getting away with atrocities, calling Nigerians to rise and ensure the former president is brought to justice.

“Let me emphasise here that Obasanjo has been getting away with murder and it is time we all join hands to nail his political coffin,” Erhabor said.

To ensure that the former president is dragged to the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Erhabor said he has already started collecting signatures from Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.

“I have decided with my friends both at home and abroad to open a register of Nigerian signatures to be forwarded to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. We want to open a criminal investigation of genocide against General Obasanjo for the massacres in Odi and Zaki-Biam.

“As soon as we get one million signatures, we will go there with bus load of Nigerians and Europeans to compel the ICC to justice to the thousands of innocent souls that were massacred,” he said.

Speaking on “Kalakuta Diaries,” Erhabor said the book is meant to not only to place Fela and the story of the Kalakuta Republic in proper perspective, but to also serve as a reminder on where Nigeria came from as a nation.

“The initial launch of this book in Lagos was frustrated by reactionary elements who hide under the guise of being progressives, to recruit street urchins for rig elections,” he said.

Erhabor, however, commended those he said were Fela’s true friends including Rasheed Gbadamosi, Femi Falana and Lanre Arogundade, for their support in making the new book a reality.

Following the passage and signing into law, the Bill that forbade same-sax relationships in Nigeria, the Police in a South-eastern town, Ogidi, Anambra State, have arrested a young lady identified as Chioma from Umudioka in Dunukofia council area of the state and one other identified as Amaka for allegedly engaging in lesbianism.*Caught in the act?
The suspects, according to a police source, were caught while indulging in the ‘unholy act’ in a beer parlour belonging to one of them.

It was reliably gathered that members of the homosexuality and lesbianism family in the state have started mobilising lawyers to make sure that the two ladies and their other members currently in police net are not sent to jail.

It was further gathered that the lesbianism family are now mobilising funds from their members in other parts of the state ahead of their legal expenses.

Our correspondent learnt that the Ogidi Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Isah Mohammed has vowed to make sure that the suspects are jailed so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan recently signed into law a bill prohibiting gay and lesbianism.

One of the suspects who was interviewed, confessed to the crime, saying it was the handiwork of the devil. She said “Please, one of my sisters is staying in her shop at Ochanga Market in Onitsha, and I don’t have her phone number off head. Please help me beg the police to allow me call her. I will never live in such dirty life again” She pleaded.

When contacted, Divisional Police Officer, DPO Mr. Isah Mohammed confirmed the story insisting that the matter must go to court.

Mohammed however, advised any interested persons to go and wait for the police in the Court, adding that it is where they “can seek for the bail of the accused dirty ladies for their alleged actions.”

According to the Nigeria’s anti-gay law, the suspects risk 14 years jail term each if convicted.

Controversy sorrounding the new book written by former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, is yet to die down as he described his former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, as a “shameless liar” who plotted against his infamous third term agenda.My friend, excuse me
At a public presentation of the book ‘Olusegun Obasanjo: My Watch,’ in Lagos, Tuesday, Obasanjo accused Abubakar of aligning with his detractors to spin his courageous effort at constitutional reform into myopic claims of tenure elongation.

the duo, Obasanjo and Atiku, were Nigeria’s President and Vice President respectively between 1999 and 2007.

Atiku failed to get the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015 general election, haven been floored by former military dictator, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd).

“Those who can be regarded as influential and who have publicly accused me of allegedly manipulating a third term were Atiku Abubakar, who is a blatant and shameless liar, who was behind the whole episode of turning wholesome constitutional amendment efforts of the National Assembly to a futile exercise and as a means of riding on its ashes to be Nigerian President,” Obasanjo said.

“Third term was not my agenda or intention although I would not say I didn’t know about it. I didn’t mastermind third term. Those who were telling me to go on were the governors that were going to benefit from it.

“If I did not want tenure elongation when I was military Head of State and had need to, I see no reason why I should be falsely accused of coup planning by Abacha and tenure elongation by Atiku.”

An Abuja High Court had granted an order restraining Obasanjo from going ahead with the book presentation.

The injunction was sought by Buruji Kashamu, a chieftain of the Peoples’ Democratic Party and close associate of President Goodluck Jonathan, who accused Mr. Obasanjo of libelous accusations in the
book.

But the former president said that going ahead with the book presentation did not violate the court’s order since it had already been printed and published three months ago.

“I had given the book to my editors and to the publisher. As far as I am concerned, my job is done. I had written the book and printed before the court injunction,” Obasanjo.

“In a normal judiciary, the judge should be sanctioned and I hope something will be done. We are here legally and lawfully and we will continue to act lawfully and legally.”

The Court on Wednesday found Obasanjo guilty of contempt and gave the former president 21 days to explain why he should not be punished.

Obasanjo also took a swipe at President Jonathan, describing the former as the “weakest” leader Nigeria had ever had.

“Although he might wish to do well, he does not know how nor does he have the capacity to,” Mr. Obasanjo said of President Jonathan.

“To compound his problem, he has not surrounded himself with aides sufficiently imbued with the qualities and abilities to help him out.

“Most of them are greedy hangers on or hungry, lacklustre characters interested only in their mouths and their pockets.”

In the book, Obasanjo also saved harsh remarks for Nasir El-Rufai, the FCT Minister during his administration, and Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor and a leader of the APC.

While El-Rufai was described as “a brilliant man but economical with the truth,” Mr. Obasanjo said Mr. Tinubu is “definitely one of the worst cases in terms of corruption.”

“Nuhu Ribadu tried to investigate almost all of them to the best of my understanding,” Obasanjo said on the former Lagos governor.

“At a time, he publicly announced that 28 out of the 36 governors were either manifestly corrupt or had tainted in one way or another. He gave me a copy of his report on those governors. Bola Tinubu was definitely one of the worst cases.”

On Buhari, Obasanjo described him as a leader who would “not be a good economic manager but who will be a strong, almost inflexible, and courageous and firm.”

A Federal Capital Territory High Court has, on Wednesday, ordered the Inspector General of Police, Director-General of State Security Services (SSS) and Controller-General of Nigeria Customs Services to confiscate Obasanjo`s book from public vendors.
Justice Valentine Ashi, gave the order after former President Olusegun Obasanjo allegedly went ahead to publish his book titled “ My Watch’’ in spite of a court order made on Dec. 5, restraining him from making the publication.

“I am of the view that the defendant having gone ahead to publish the book, he should therefore show cause within 21 days of the order served on him on why he should not be punished for contempt of court.

“The Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of State Security Services and the Controller General of Nigeria Customs Services are hereby directed to recover the book from sales vendors,” the Judge ordered.

He directed that the book should be kept with the registrar of the court pending the determination of the suit.

Ashi also restrained the defendant from further printing, publishing or circulating the book “ My Watch’’ which, he said “touches on the subject matter of the suit before the court.’’

Earlier, counsel to Obasanjo, Mr Realwan Okpanachi, told the court that the book was published before the order was granted.

Okpanachi argued that the book had been in circulation since November and the order was made on Dec. 5.

The Counsel to Buruji Kashamu, Mr Alex Izinyo, SAN, submitted that the defendant`s application was a calculated attempt to deceive the court.

Izinyo argued that the defendant admitted in his motion papers that the book was published on Nov. 10 and in another paragraph, it was also stated that the book was published on Nov. 2.

“My lord, the burden of proof lay with the defendant to show the court three volumes of the book,’’ he said.

Ashi adjourned to Jan. 13 and 14, 2015, for hearing of the substantive case.

The plaintiff Mr Buruji Kashamu, had earlier dragged former President Olusegun Obasanjo before the court for libel.

Kashamu alleged that the former addressed him as ex-convict in the letter he wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan titled, “Before it is too late’’.

Hon Oyetakin Ebenezer is the director of Research and Documentation at Anti-Corruption Network. He is the author of ‘Nigeria: A Giant in Search of Her Destiny’. In this interview, he bared his mind on the just permanent voters’ cards distribution by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), challenges ahead of 2015 general elections and other national issues.

What is your assessment of the electoral process ahead of next year’s general elections?

Well, so far, so rough because the electoral umpire itself, the INEC, is not appearing to be improving in anything. Every time they want to do anything they complain of logistic problem. And you can see that manifesting in the distribution of ordinary permanent voters’ card. So, how long will INEC be bugging their own processes? This is not instilling confidence in Nigerians to say that INEC is prepared to do the right thing. There again, the Peoples Democratic Party that is supposed to lead by example by ensuring that there is internal democracy in party practices, they are doing endorsements, giving free tickets and thereby overheating the polity on daily basis. And when you put all of these together, with the gross mismanagement of the insurgency, they are affecting our resolution to conduct free and fare elections. But the most important thing is that we should appeal to INEC to behave right and both PDP and APC should see themselves as partners in progress; that election is intended to be won and lost. And if you lose election, you should work to run another time. No party should think is their right to perpetually be in power. These are the things we must continue to contend with. In United States where we borrowed our democracy from, we saw that the United States has two prominent political parties, the Democrat and the Republican. We see that a new political party has emerged and is trying to create a balance of contest. There should be unnecessary tension. And that is the tension that the PDP is imposing on Nigerians with the emergence of APC; it is not the APC that is creating the tension, it is the resistance to change from the PDP that has gotten accustomed to power after 16 years.

Don’t forget that it was the PDP government that allowed the registration of the APC. How would that turn round to be an issue for them?

The truth of the matter is that they did not allow the registration of APC. APC was having people too formidable to handle by them. Number one, you remember that they never registered APC until the last day, on 4th of July 2012 and if they did not register it that day and INEC did not pronounce it registered, INEC itself would have entered into constitutional crisis and APC would have automatically be known to law as registered. That was what happened. They did it 12 hours to that elapsing. And you know that PDP, through their frontiers and cronies, was there throwing up multiple acronyms of APC left and right. Those were the things. Now, when you have such contradictions, you should know that it is because the system is resisting a change.

But today, I think Nigerians should be very happy that there is a balance of contest. The dominance party, the PDP is having 19 governors, the APC is having 16. So, when they go into election in 2015, Nigeria can expect surprises. I’m not saying that I’m endorsing APC or endorsing PDP, but I said Nigerians should rejoice that there is alternative, there is choice to make.

In the build up to the 2015 general elections, how will this balance of contest you talked about come to play out?

It is going to play because each of the parties has the capacity to man every polling unit effectively and defensively in terms of defending their votes. In 2011, the CPC that was the close party to PDP in that presidential election, particularly, had no enough manpower and they registered that party nine months to the presidential election. That party had no single counselor, but today with the amalgamation and emergence of APC, that party is having numbers of local government chairmen, counselors, House of Reps members, Senators and what have you, including 16 governors. It is impossible to rig such people’s election because they will defend their elections. So, the political system, both PDP and APC must adjust to ensure that come 2015 they allow Nigerians to make the choice of right leaders that will lead them out of these challenging moments.

What is your view on issues relating to inducement of voters with what is now regarded as stomach infrastructure as there have been accusation and counter accusation in this regard, particularly between PDP and APC as witnessed in Osun and Ekiti states elections?

Now, let me say this without fear or favour: where the fish got rot is from the head. For the past 16 years, PDP has been at the central government. If democracy is not getting better, it is because they have not been behaving appropriately and you definitely know that in the case of Osun and Ekiti, the security intimidation that took place in Ekiti State and security intimidation that was imposed; over 93,000 everything that can carry gun were mobilized to the tiny state of Osun. This is not how to practice democracy; a democracy of intimidation is not what Nigeria needs at this time. But just as you rightly asked, anybody who collected ‘stomach infrastructure’ – rice, N5,000.00, N10, 000.00, or what have you, in order to vote, it is unfortunate. Such people are eating the future of their children unborn. I think, you the press people would have to educate people in the Nigerian society to understand this because when they give you those things, they will collect it back. In the case of Osun State, they were distributing a bag, a gallon of kerosene, a gallon of vegetable oil and N10, 000.00; and when somebody does that to you, he is only buying your future. So, people can collect those money or those materials and still vote their conscience.

What is your advice to INEC in its preparations ahead of the 2015 general elections?

That is why I said we have to beg INEC, because the way INEC has been behaving under Prof. Jega is like what the lawyers will say, descending into the arena. When an umpire descends into an arena, you cannot have a fair play. For example, INEC deregistered numbers of political parties and Fresh Democratic Party went to court and the judgment was that it remains a political party and they should be restored and the Electoral Act, section 78, upon which they based the nullification of those political parties was also nullified by that court. Till today, that stands as the current state of the law, but INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega and his national commissioner, a Political Scientist, who understands the fact that even if it is not a total adherence to established constitutional order of a nation, it is a call to anarchy. INEC has refused to recognize that court order. There was a court order that said there will be no election in Adamawa State, because it suits the power that be, INEC lost their independency and immediately said, ‘well, there is a court order’ and they obeyed the court in Adamawa because it suits the power that be. So, INEC that we see today is a compromised institution that must liberate itself and show to Nigerians that they are out of the Arena it has descended.

Temporary relief came for embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Friday, as an Abuja High Court, hearing the suit he filed against the Federal Government and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), restated its order that status quo should be maintained, THEWILL reports.

Although counsel to both parties could not agree on the prayers being sought, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police promised not to undermine the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives as further hearing in the case was adjourned to Nov. 17.

The defendants however asked the court presided by Justice Ahmed Mohammed to dismiss the suit filed by the embattled Speaker challenging , among others, the withdrawal of his security details .

In the suit he filed at the court, Tambuwal had challenged, among others, the alleged plans ‎by the PDP and the Federal Government to sack him from office as Speaker following his recent defection to the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Mohammed had based the court order to maintain status quo on verbal undertakings ‎by the defendants lawyers not to do anything that would destroy the subject matter of the case.

“Parties are on agreement that the res should not be tampered with. The plaintiffs are satisfied by the undertakings granted the defendants not to tamper with the res.
The lone issue now is the security of the plaintiff.

“On the issue of jurisdiction, the court has power to determine whether or not it has jurisdiction. The preliminary objections will be taken together with the substantive case.

“Parties are hereby directed to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the suit and the preliminary objections,” Justice Mohammed stated in his short ruling even as he was silent on the plaintiff’s request for an order directing the police to reinstate his security details.

There is confusion over the interpretation of the status quo as ordered by the court.

Prophet Temitope Joshua, the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, on Wednesday said he was yet to be “personally served” the witness summons issued by the Lagos State Coroner, Oyetade Komolafe.
Joshua made this known through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, at the ongoing Coroner’s Inquest into the September 12 collapse of a guest house within the church.

The inquest was set up by the Lagos State Government to investigate the incident, which led to the death of 116 persons.

Komolafe had slated November 5 for Joshua and the contractor, who handled the project, to appear before the court.

But on Wednesday, Ojo informed the court that the bailiffs were unable to effect the proper service on Joshua as required by law.

He said though the bailiffs went to the church premises in Ikotun Egbe area of Lagos, the cleric was not around at the time of their visit.

Ojo said: “I do not want an insinuation to be made that the prophet was served and he did not come to court.
“He has been in touch with many families who lost their loved ones in the incident.

“The bailiffs merely gave the witness summons to one of the evangelists in the church, but the law says they should personally serve the prophet.”

According to Ojo, the contractor has not also been served because the court is yet to get his name and address.

Ojo also declined the coroner’s request that the summons should be served on him on behalf of Joshua.

Following the development, Komolafe agreed to reschedule the appearance of both witnesses, adding that the church should provide the name and address of the contractor.

He said: “The prophet (Joshua) should assist the court to assist him.

“As the chief mourner, we don’t want to inflict more pain on him.

“He should not put himself at variance with the law.”

Testifying earlier, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, told the court that 131 persons were rescued alive from the site of the collapsed building.

Oke-Osanyintolu said that LASEMA, working in collaboration with the Synagogue Church members and other rescue agencies, also recovered 80 bodies from the collapsed building.

He, however, said that the crowd of bystanders and sympathisers prevented the agency from gaining quick access to the scene, which could have led to the rescue of more victims.

According to him, the rescue team was severally assaulted by some persons within the crowd and prevented from taking pictures.

Oke-Osanyintolu said: “I will appeal to the general public in Lagos State that we have a structure in place and whenever there is any form of emergency they should call us.

“They should also give us the enabling environment to perform effectively and efficiently.”

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has held that the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has no powers to impose fines on erring motorists.
Trial judge, Justice James Tsoho in his judgement in a suit by a lawyer, Mr Tope Alabi, held that FRSC can not turn itself into a court of law by punishing those who commit traffic offences.

The plaintiff had prayed the court to declare that only a court of competent jurisdiction can pronounce a person guilty under Section 10 (4) and 28 (2) of the FRSC (Establishment Act) 2007 and Regulation 143 of the Nigerian Roads Traffic Regulation, 2011.

The judge declared the sections null and void for being inconsistent with Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution.

He also awarded N1 million damages to the plaintiff because FRSC confiscated his vehicle and driver’s licence. “It is my conviction that the plaintiff is entitled to remedy on this account,” he said.

Justice Tsoho said while FRSC is statutorily empowered to arrest and fine traffic offenders, a closer look at the definition of the word “fine” means ‘a pecuniary criminal punishment or civil penalty payable to the public treasury.’

“In the instance case, however, the involvement of the element of arrest takes the imposition of fine by the second defendant (FRSC) to the realm of criminal punishment.

“It is noteworthy that a fine, when viewed from that perspective, is a component of sentence.

“From these definitions, it is obvious that the act of sentencing is a judicial action or exercise. Imposition of fine connotes conviction for an alleged offence. This pre-supposes a trial and conviction of the person fined, especially having regard to the definition of sentencing.

“It is, thus, very clear that the FRSC, not being a court of law, can not impose fine, especially that it has no powers to conduct trial.

“Hence, the exercise of the statutory powers given to the second defendant under the Act as pertain to imposition of fine is clearly a usurpation of judicial powers exclusively vested in the courts,” the judge held.

He further held that FRSC’s imposition of fine on the plaintiff because of his cracked windscreen is illegal.

“In the circumstances, I endorse the plaintiff’s submission that by virtue of S.1 (3) of the Constitution, the power to impose fine conferred on FRSC by the enabling Act is null and void to the extent of its inconsistency with Section 6 of the Constitution,” the judge held.

The judge said though the National Assembly is empowered to make laws, it cannot go outside the limits set by the 1999 Constitution.

“Basically, an unconstitutional legislation is null and void. That is, therefore, the effect of Section 28 (2) of the FRSC Act 2007 which has purportedly conferred power on the second defendant to impose fine, which is a judicial function. Such power is unconstitutional and unenforceable.

“The FRSC is not constitutionally vested with judicial powers and cannot and should not under any guise purport to function as a court, with competence to impose fine on alleged offenders.

“Much as FRSC seems to have passionate zeal for traffic law enforcement, it cannot be allowed to do so in breach of constitutional provisions.

“It is necessary to add that even in respect of strict liability offences, a court of law should appropriately declare the guilt of an alleged offender and then impose fine.

“FRSC’s function should not go beyond issuance of mere notices of offence,” the judge said.

Besides, Justice Tsoho said FRSC resorted to “legislative absurdity” when it imposed a fine of N3,000 on Alabi rather than the N2,000 statutorily prescribed.

“The point must be made that it is a cardinal principle of natural justice that no person be condemned without being heard. It is in observance of this that a person alleged to have committed an offence has to respond to such allegation before a court of law during trial,” he held.

According to the judge, Alabi was issued a notice of offence sheet on April 4 last year, but FRSC did not take him to court for five months before the plaintiff filed his suit on September 9 last year.

“The vital question to ask is how long would the second defendant reasonably take to commence prosecution of a traffic offence? The plaintiff was not under obligation to wait indefinitely for redress due to FRSC’s inaction or laxity,” the judge added.

He said: “I hold the view that confiscation of the vehicle was unnecessary in the first place, though the second defendant (FRSC) spiritedly sought to justify it.

“The seemingly indefinite retention of the plaintiff’s vehicle papers and driver’s licence by officers of the second defendant is totally unreasonable, insensitive and unacceptable.

“The confiscation no doubt deprived the plaintiff of the use of the vehicle for as long as it lasted and also custody of his vehicle papers and driver’s licence.”

The judge granted 11 of the plaintiff’s 14 reliefs, and said he was awarded N1 million rather than the N10 million Alabi prayed for because “FRSC acted under the belief that it was statutorily empowered to so act,” adding that the commission’s innocent mistake “constitutes a mitigating factor as to the quantum of damages.”

The National Assembly, FRSC and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), were the defendants in the suit with reference No. FHC/L/CS/1234/13.

The appearance and testimony of the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, before a coroner would not harm him, a Federal High Court in Lagos ruled, Tuesday.
Temitope Joshua (popularly known as T.B Joshua) is billed to testify on Wednesday at an ongoing coroner’s inquest into the circumstances surrounding the collapse of a guest house in his church.

Over 115 people, mostly foreigners, died when the six storey building belonging to the church collapsed on September 12.

Last week, Olukoya Ogungbeje, a Lagos-basedbased lawyer, had approached the court praying for an order restraining the coroner from conducting further proceedings on the inquest.

The lawyer also sought an interim injunction restraining Mr. Joshua from appearing before the coroner.

But on Tuesday, Ibrahim Buba, the judge, ruled that the interim injunction was not necessary since Mr. Joshua was not personally affected by the inquest.

According to the judge, Mr. Joshua is neither a party to the filed suit nor is he held in detention.

“If Ogungbeje was the party summoned before the coroner, then the issue of a restraining order will arise, but in this situation, how can I restrain the whole world?” Mr. Buba said.

“The applicant has not shown that he will suffer any danger if the restraining order is not granted, and so, I will hear this case on merit on Thursday, November 6, and I will not grant any restraining order. This is the ruling of the court.”

Tuesday’s ruling was the final nail in the coffin following weeks of scheming and strategies by Mr. Joshua’s camp to avoid him testifying before the coroner.

Last Wednesday, an angry Oyetade Komolafe, the coroner, threatened to arrest the church leader if he fails to honour the invitation to appear before him.

“If he doesn’t come, he will be arrested, please advise him,” Mr. Komolafe had told the church’s counsel at the inquest.

“The sheriff said he has served him (a witness summons) and I have the evidence of that. If he cannot come on that day, he should tell us why he cannot come.”

The magistrate was responding to an earlier suggestion by Lateef Fagbemi, the church’s counsel, that only people who would be of relevance to the court ought to be invited.

“I have gone through all the depositions filed, no mention has been made of Joshua,” Mr. Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had said.

“I will suggest that it is those who can be of assistance from the SCOAN that will be invited.”

The next day, the inquest began with Mr. Komolafe walking, Nelson Okedinachi, who is in the team that filed the suit at the federal high court, out of the room for seeking to inform the coroner of the suit they had filed.

Afterwards, the coroner took time to clarify to Olalekan Ojo, who had announced his appearance for the Synagogue Church, that he did not summon the church.

“Nobody summoned the Synagogue church. The court summoned T.B Joshua and when the time comes, he will appear,” Mr. Komolafe had told the counsel.

Mr. Ogungbeje had joined as defendants in his suit the Lagos State Government, the Attorney General of the state, and Mr. Komolafe (the coroner).

The lawyer had argued that the composition of the Coroner’s inquest was a negation of the principle of natural justice and Section 36 of the Constitution, and as such it was unconstitutional, null and void.

The lawyer had further argued that the Lagos State government, who instituted the inquest, had already indicted Mr. Joshua and his church by claiming that he was not given approval to put additional floors on the collapsed building.

“The Lagos State Building Control Agency even went ahead to seal up the main building of the church,” Mr. Ogungbeje had said.

“The General Manager of the agency even said in the papers and I quote him as follows ‘we have investigated and found that they had no approval for the additional structures. Even the main church which they have added about three floors on was sealed two days ago.’”

Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos on Monday nullified the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) which transferred ownership of Newswatch Communications Limited to Global Media Mirror Limited owned by Lagos based businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim.
However, the management of the publication is set to file for a stay of execution of the verdict Tuesday.

Justice Buba in a judgment on a suit filed by some minority shareholders of the news outfit challenging the validity of the takeover of the company awarded N15.7 million damages against the respondents.

The court also ordered a stop to further publications of Newswatch Daily among other reliefs sought by the petitioners.

According to the judge “The Petitioners gave evidence to show that the second to third Respondents have blatantly failed to pay for the Shares in the Company. They have not showed how and when they paid for the said Shares. Nothing in paragraph 11 and 18A of the Respondents’ Statement of Defence shows how they have paid for the Shares. There is no evidence in paragraph 3.0 that the Respondents have paid on or before 5th May, 2011.

“The Respondents have only given their interpretation to that paragraph. Whatever monies they spent was spent on Daily Mirror and was confirmed by DW2 during cross examination. The N510million was supposed to be paid for Shares and not for any other purpose, there is no evidence to show that the Shares have been paid for. Besides, it was a company called “Global Fleet” that paid the N14million, not any of the respondents who contracted with the first respondent.

“The court grants all the reliefs as set out on the petition at the inception of this case as follows: an order setting aside the contract entered into between the first and and Respondent Companies by virtue of document titled “Share Purchase Agreement” between Newswatch Communications Limited “Seller” and Global Media Mirror Limited “Buyer” and executed by the parties therein on or about May, 2011.

“A Consequential Order setting aside the Form CAC2 – Statement of Share Capital and Return of Allotment of Shares of the 1st Respondent company dated the 27th day of August, 2012 presented for filing by one Gloria A. Ukeje.

“An Order directing the 2nd and 3rd Respondent jointly and severally to pay special damages in the sum of N15.7million to the 1st Respondent Company being loss of Business profits since August 2012 till October 2012 when the 1st Respondent’s operations were unilaterally shut down by the 2nd and 3rd Respondents and to pay an average sum of N5million per month for every month that the 1st Respondent is shut down without production of its weekly magazine until the determination of this Suit”, the court held

Justice Buba held that it has come to the inevitable conclusion that the Petitioners have discharged the burden placed on them and have proved their case while the first to fourth Respondents have failed woefully to discharge the burden placed on them.

The court stated that the findings of Justice Okon Abang in his Judgment he earlier delivered in related suit listed as FHC/L/CS/1054/2012 is not a ratio decidendi but an obita, and is therefore not binding on the Court.

It will be recalled that Aruwa and Prof. Aminu had filed the action seeking for an interlocutory injunction restraining the first to fourth respondents by themselves, their agents or privies from publishing and selling to the public or causing to be published and sold to the public a daily and weekend Newspaper known as Daily Newswatch, Saturday Newswatch and Sunday Newswatch as advertised in the National Mirror Newspaper of January 15, 2013 pending the hearing and determination of the substantial suit.

Supported by a 28 paragraph affidavit deposed to by Aruwa, the former shareholders averred that the 2nd and 3rd respondents purportedly came into majority ownership and/or control of the Newswatch Communications Limited by virtue of a Share Purchase Agreement entered into between 1st respondent and 2nd respondent in May 2011.

Aruwa insisted that under and by virtue of clause 3.0 of the said agreement, the 2nd defendant (Global Media Mirror) and the 3rd respondent (Ibrahim) purportedly acquired 51 percent of the first respondents company on the condition that they pay sum of N510million as purchase price for the said shares. He added that by clause 4.0 of the said agreement, the said sum of money was to be paid on or before May 5, 2011.

He stated further that clause 13.0 of the same agreement, the 2nd respondent was obligated to pay additional N500million within 90 days after take-over of the company which was supposed to be for a working capital for the company.

“That without complying fully with aforementioned conditions of the agreement, the 2nd respondent through the instrumentality of the 3rd respondent went ahead and took over full control and management of the first respondent company.

“That to our utter shock and detriment, the 2nd and 3rd respondents simply shut down the operations of the first respondent company, particularly the publication of Newswatch Magazine, which is the flagship and major source business and source of income of the first respondent company and from which we get returns from our investment in first respondent company. The magazine had been in publication for about 28 years before it was stopped by the 2nd respondent and 3rd respondents,” he swore.

He deposed that unless the first to fourth respondents are stopped from carrying out their said intentions, they would have succeeded in killing the business of the first defendant where the plaintiffs have shares and from which they expect dividends for their investment, adding that the first to fourth respondents would have also succeeded in appropriating the entire business of the first respondent to themselves by rendering same redundant and operating the 4th respondent which is owned by them to the detriment of the petitioners.

He said: “It is in the interest of justice that the respondents are called upon to explain and show cause why they cannot wait for the substantive issues herein to be determined before rushing to float the new newspaper despite the fact that it is a live issue in the substantive suit.”

The Federal Government today (Wednesday) ordered the Chief Judge of Adamawa State to without delay swear-in Barr. Bala Ngilari as the governor of the state, in obedience to Wednesday court ruling.

DailyPost recalls that the Federal High Court today declared Ngilari’s resignation as unconstitutional, null and void, reinstating him to the Government House as Acting Governor of Adamawa state. Consequently, the court nullified the swearing-in of Ahmadu Umar Fintiri as Acting Governor of the state.

Reacting to the Court ruling, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, advised the Independent National Electoral Commission to stop forthwith all arrangements put in place for the Saturday’s governorship bye-election in the state.

The statement was signed by the Chief Press Secretary in the Ministry, Adedeji Ajibade and it reads below:

“The attention of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered by Hon. Justice Adeniyi Ademola on October 8 in respect of the above matter.

“The Federal High Court by its judgment under reference nullified the swearing in of Ahmadu Umar Fintiri as the Acting Governor of Adamawa State and declared the resignation of James Bala Ngilari as unconstitutional, null and void.

“In obedience to the judgment of the court and the need to avert a vacuum in governance and possible constitutional crises, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, hereby calls on the Chief Judge of Adamawa State to immediately swear in Barr. James Ngilari as Governor of Adamawa State.

“The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission is also called upon in obedience to the judgment of the Federal High Court to keep in abeyance all the arrangements made for the conduct of the bye-elections scheduled to take place in Adamawa State on Saturday, October 11, 2014,” it stated.

The Federal government has released the list of 2013 and 2014 National Honours Award recipients. The Nigerian Times gathered that over 80% of the awardees came from the public sector as either public officers or political appointees.
The list includes a policeman, Sergeant Jafaru Wadzani; a teacher, Dr. Nathaniel Chid Nwaneri; traffic warden, CPL Solomon Dauda; civil servant, Aliyu Omar; public servant, Salihu Sintalma Abubakar; and a taxi driver, Mr. Imeh usuah, a 66-year-old driver who returned N18m forgotten in his car to the owner.

Less than 15% of the recipients are actually from the private sector including the tradition rulers and business men whose individual contributions were considered for the awards.

No one was listed for the highest award of Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON) while the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) category goes to mostly retired and current service chiefs, heads of service and traditional rulers.

The title of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) has some former governors and Chief Judges of various states as beneficiaries.

Those to be awarded with the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) include former governor of Kogi State-Ibrahim Idris, Chief Judge of Ogun State – Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, Chief Judge of Ebonyi State- Justice Nweke Nwanko, Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State – Justice Isua Bassey, Chief Judge of Kogi State – Justice Nasiru Ajanah, Chief Judge of Gombe State – Justice Yalah Heman, Chief Judge of Beyelsa State – Justice Kate Abiri.

A 31 year old man named Wasiu Ogunnoiki was arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Sagamu yesterday September 2nd for allegedly posting negative remarks about the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, on his Facebook wall.
Ogunnoiki was alleged to have posted a message on Facebook saying that the state Governor had demolished the houses of some citizens without compensating them accordingly, a statement the government said they found unacceptable, and could incite the citizens against the governor.

Ogunnoiki was also alleged to have published the photograph of the APC Chairman in Sagamu Local Government, Femi Felix Kafar on his Facebook wall, claiming that the man in partnership with members of the Labor party in the state, have concluded plans to sack governor Amosun from office before the 2015 general elections. The charge ran contrary to Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code, Volume II Laws of Ogun State 2006.

When the two count charge was read out, Ogunnoiki pleaded not guilty to the charges and the Chief Magistrate, Mr O.O. Ojo granted him bail in the sum of N400,000, with two sureties in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till December 5th.

One wonders what the APC governor would have done if he was in the shoes of President Goodluck Jonathan, who receives insults on Facebook and the mass media on daily bases.